Peabody conservation commission continues enforcement review of Salem Country Club tree work to April

The Peabody Conservation Commission on Jan. 9 continued its review of an enforcement order against the Salem Country Club for tree removal, stump grinding and deposition of wood chips inside a buffer zone near jurisdictional riverfront resource areas at 133 Forest Street.

The commission continued the matter to its April meeting and directed the club and its consultants to conduct further field verification after spring leaf-out so trees can be identified reliably. Attorney Barry Fogel, representing the club, told commissioners the DeRosa Environmental update mostly refined tree counts and that a site visit after leaf-out would allow any remaining discrepancies to be finalized.

Commission staff and the club discussed scheduling a joint site walk in May or June; the club’s arborist and the commission’s consultant suggested June but noted weekday constraints. The commission asked that marked trees be geolocated and that the parties coordinate dates to maximize attendance. Commissioners agreed to continue the enforcement order to the April meeting and to schedule a site visit thereafter.

Why it matters: The commission’s enforcement order addresses potential alterations within the local riverfront and buffer zones, areas subject to state wetland protections. The continuation preserves the commission’s oversight while allowing field verification when tree identities are clearer.

Details and immediate next steps: Commissioners asked that any remaining trees be tagged and geo-located after leaf-out and that revisions to the spreadsheet and supplemental information be submitted following the site visit. The commission recorded the continuation in a roll call vote that passed unanimously among participating members.